Varugad-Mahimangad-Vardhangad-Santoshgad Fort Trek

Varugad-Mahimangad-Vardhangad-Santoshgad Fort

2 Days1 Night

Event Overview

Varugad
Varugad fort is placed in the Satara region of the Sahyadris. The hill fort is at a height of 2,900 ft. Bhairavnath temple and the fortification remains are the attractions. Bus services are available from Phaltan to Girvi village. From there walk up to Jadhavwadi, a village at the foot hills, and then follow a trek route to reach the top.
Varugad is the hill fort. It is at 2900 ft height. The main point is Bhairavnaath Temple. Varugad is actually not very famous fort but is very beautiful place. Varugad is comprised of twelve small villages called ‘Vadyas’. At the back side of Bhairavnaath Temple, the actual fort is placed. In front of Bhairavnaath temple, there is ver y deep valley.

Mahimangad
Mahimangad is about 51 km south of Phaltan city. This fort is in Maan Taluka in Satara, and is a part of the chain of forts created to guard the ancient trade route from Mahad to Bijapur. The fort is located near Mahimangad village on the Satara – Pandharpur road. All the forts in this region are built on isolated mountains and their shapes are unique.
The trail to the fort is on the north face of the fort and takes us along the ramparts to the east facing entrance. On the pillars of the entrance, there are magnificent elephants protruding which are unique and not found elsewhere. The entrance is not visible till we reach very near, as we have to go along the edge and the bastion is built in such a way so that the door cannot be struck by the enemy easily. The bastion near the entrance is a huge one and has stairs to climb up.

Vardhangad
The construction of the fort was undertaken in 1673 by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and was finished in 1674. It was used as an outpost guarding the east frontier of his newly acquired territory. In 1800, the fort, then in the hands of the Pratinidhi, was invested by Mahadji Shinde’s force with 25,000 men. The Ramoshis in the south-west machi were attacked and killed the horse of Muzafarkhan one of Shinde’s generals. The machis were then sacked and burnt. Further havoc was stopped by the influence of the Sarnobat Ghorpade’s wife who was sister to the wife of Shinde. In 1803, Balvantrav Bakshi, the commandant of the fort, fought here a battle with Yesai Saheb Firangi. The fort was shelled, the machis sacked, and a contribution of Rs. 3,000 levied. In 1805, the fort was attacked by Fattesingh Mane. The Karkhanis and other officers were killed and Fattesingh took many horses in the neighbourhood. But was himself killed soon afterwards in a battle fought with Balvantrav Phadnis, the Mutalik of pratinidhi who was assisted by the troops of Chintamanrav Patwardhan.In 1807, after the battle of Vasantgad, Bapu Gokhale brought the Pant Pratinidhi to Cimanganv, a Koregaon village close to the north of the fort, and the fort was then surrendered to him. He administered it for five years till 1811 when the Peshva took charge of it.

Santoshgad
Santoshgad is divided into three parts. First part of the fort is the protective (defensive) fortification, second part is the flat portion on the mountain and the topmost part is the “Balekilla” or the top citadel. There is a ‘Math’ (cloister/ monastery) on the way to Santoshgad. Besides this monastery is a cave with water storage tank. Also, there is a statue of “Valmiki Rishi”. There is an entrance on the upper side of the monastery, for which we need to go around it. The path to the left side of the monastery goes along the fort walls and takes us to the main entrance. There is a small temple on this way.
There are hardly any remnants of the main entrance, but the porches (meant for guards) are still intact. After entering through this door, a tank called ‘Hanuman Take’ can be seen. Behind this tank are many dilapidated structures and some old warehouses. Behind these buildings is a huge water tank with steps carved into walls of the tank for descending. There is a Shiva temple inside. Santoshgad is also called as ‘Fort of Tathawada’, since the base village is called by that name.